Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Fires set inside Library--Arson or Criminal Mischief

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Teague Fire Department and law enforcement rushed to the Teague Library on Friday afternoon, March 20, 2015, when a fire was reported. The fires are being investigated as arson.

Patrons of the Teague Public Library were surprised last Friday afternoon, March 20th as they were evacuated from the facility due to smoke in the building.

According to Teague Chief of Police Denis Cox, a call came in as criminal mischief at the Teague Library at approximately 4:50 p.m. Upon arrival, officers observed smoke in the building, but did not see any fire. Cox said the officers notified the Teague Volunteer Fire Department, which responded and found a Teague Lion Band Jacket on fire that was on display in the rear of the building.

After the jacket was extinguished and the building was cleared, the remains of another fire location was found in a workroom also in the back portion of the library. Investigators found where a single paper towel had been placed on a desk and ignited, but there was no additional source of fuel around the paper towel for the fire to expand. Chief Cox adds that the fires are being investigated as arson, which carries a felony offense.

City seeks bids so swimming pool can open for summer

Thursday, March 26, 2015

CAITLIN COLLINS signed a Letter of Intent to attend Austin College in Sherman, Texas, where she will play basketball for the Austin College Roos. This is a four-year basketball scholarship. The college said that they are very excited to have Caitlin on board. Caitlin is the all-time leading scorer in Teague girls basketball.

Following a recommendation from City Administrator Judy Keally not to fund an upgrade at the City Airport but to work on reopening the City Pool this summer instead, a motion was approved by a 5-0 vote during City Council action March 16th at City Hall.

Keally reported to the council that the airport is currently useable like it is, but it is not benefitting any of the citizens of Teague. Mayor Pro-Tem Ron Rasbeary led out with a motion to have Keally seek bids to repair the City Pool and bring it up to standards set forth by the American Disabilities Act. A notice is inside this issue of The Chronicle seeking bids from swimming pool contractors to replace plumbing, install necessary pool equipment, which includes an ADA compatible handicap-lift and electrical work to make the pool ADA compliant.

With summer just around the corner, City Council members met in a special called meeting on Monday, March 23rd to approve the bid notice which calls for “Sealed Bids for the Swimming Pool” to be returned to City Hall prior to April 14th at 3 p.m., at which time they will be publicly opened and read.

The City Pool has been held out of service because of costly repairs for the past two summers.

Council members authorized an Economic Development Corporation expenditure of $3,614 to remove and replace the light poles at the City Baseball Complex. Council members amended the City’s 2014-15 budget in the amount of $2,595 to pay for having electricity hooked up to the new lights...

Burglary Suspect is Arrested by Authorities

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Colby Ryan Kennedy

Local law enforcement officers and citizens in general can breathe a little easier following the arrest of a local man believed responsible for a number of recent burglaries in the area.

Taken into custody and charged with burglary of habitation by the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office is 39-year-old Colby Ryan Kennedy. The arrest came Wednesday, March 18th after Kennedy was seen walking down Fourth Avenue by Teague Fire Chief Jody Bodine, who alerted authorities. Both the Teague Police Department and Freestone County Sheriff’s Office had been on the lookout for Kennedy after he successfully evaded arrest Tuesday afternoon by fleeing out of a back window of a residence where he was believed to be staying at the Freestone Trailer Park on Hwy. 84 West.

Workers at Long Industries and a railroad employee reportedly spotted Kennedy earlier Tuesday pulling a cart through the woods filled with items taken from a home burglarized west of Teague near the railroad underpass.

FCSO Deputies and Teague Police Department officers were dispatched Tuesday afternoon to a report of a man walking in the Freestone Trailer Park carrying several rifles...

Lawrence is an Asset to Teague

Thursday, March 26, 2015
- BY MIMI BROWN

Marie Lawrence

Marie Lawrence has been involved in supporting Teague in so many ways. She has freely given of her time and energy to make Teague a better place, on her own and with her husband, Dick Lawrence, as well.

Ethel Marie Pope was born in Kingsville, Texas, on August 13, 1929 to Clifford and Elizabeth Pope. Her family moved to Teague June 19, 1937 when she was seven years old.

Her father worked on the railroad to take care of a family of six, his wife and four children. The oldest was Marie’s half brother, Ray Deming, who’s B-17 was shot down over Germany in World War II. He was missing in action for two years before he was presumed to be dead. This was a very hard time for the family. Next was Elizabeth Irene Pope Smith and then the third child is Marie Pope Lawrence. They both still live in Teague. Her brother, Clifford Oscar, Jr., was the youngest.

The Pope family were members of 1st Baptist Church. “We had an orchestra at 1st Baptist back then,” said Marie. “Our orchestra played for the Sunday morning worship service. I played the Alto Clarinet, Earle Wylie and Tom Clark were on the Trombones...

Restaurant owners still interested in relocating to Teague

Thursday, March 26, 2015

“It all depends on Billy and how soon he can get back on his feet,” said Brenda Brown of her husband who has undergone back surgery. Brenda was referring to her and her husband relocating Billy B’s Restaurant at the Groesbeck Livestock Commission to Teague. “We hope to negotiate a deal so we can move...